First Full Day in a Box for Blaine

CNN.com – Saturday, September 6, 2003

LONDON, England -- American illusionist David Blaine is spending his first full day suspended in a clear plastic box over London's River Thames with, he says, nothing but water to sustain him.

The self-styled modern-day Houdini from New York is planning to live for 44 days and nights in a plastic box measuring 7ft deep, 7ft long and 3ft wide, with no distraction, communication or food while dangling precariously over the river. It his first major stunt outside the United States.

Blaine, 30, entered his tiny temporary home suspended between Tower Bridge and the Greater London Assembly building at Potters Field Park at 9:27 p.m. (2027 GMT) Friday night and is not due to emerge until Sunday October 19.

"I'm not worried about the first three weeks, I'm worried about the second half of this when I start to lose my mind and everything gets really bad," Blaine told the UK's Press Association shortly before entering the box.

"I just believe that the feeling of wonder is amazing. I am pushing myself as far as I can humanly push myself ... I can only hope for the best and expect the worse."

Up to 4,000 people turned out to see Blaine begin his gruelling challenge. The showman took a photograph of his late mother into the box with him for inspiration.

Dr Adam Carey, who carried out a physical examination of Blaine just moments before he stepped into the box, said: "From a medical point of view, I cannot condone it.

"From a personal point of view, I think he's nuts."

Blaine said of the doctor: "He's saying the area between 30 and 50 days is a complete unknown.".

Despite much publicity, his feat will not be recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.

Compilers of the book said they would not actively endorse fasting records -- and that the size of his temporary home is not as small as current record holders. (Full story)

Guinness also dismissed Blaine's earlier feats -- being buried alive and living in an ice block -- as not measuring up.

Blaine is being allowed to take diapers, a journal, some pens, lip balm, a pillow and a pad to lie on into the box. He said he currently weighs about 205 pounds and expects to lose about 45 pounds during the stunt.

Last week, Blaine marked his arrival in London by perching on the roof of a capsule of the London Eye 450 feet (135 meters) above the Thames. (Full story)

On Monday, Blaine shocked a group of journalists in London when he appeared to cut off part of his ear at a news conference. (Full story)